Molecular Breeding Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031

The Global Molecular Breeding Market is projected to expand from USD 7.79 Billion in 2025 to USD 12.37 Billion by 2031, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 8.01%. This sector focuses on utilizing molecular biology techniques, particularly DNA markers, to identify plants or animals possessing specific genetic advantages like disease resistance or enhanced yield without necessarily using genetic modification. By enabling the identification of genes without waiting for phenotypic expression, this approach significantly hastens the breeding timeline. The market is primarily propelled by the intensifying global need for high-quality food supplies and the critical demand for crops capable of withstanding climate instability, which represents a fundamental, long-term requirement for agricultural sustainability rather than a fleeting market trend.

However, the expansion of this market is obstructed by complicated and disjointed regulatory systems across various nations. Divergent policies concerning breeding technologies create significant compliance obstacles that can postpone the market entry of enhanced varieties. Data from the International Seed Federation in 2024 highlights this issue, noting that nearly 75% of seed industry experts warned that inconsistent or unscientific regulations jeopardize the sector's ability to ensure global food security. Such regulatory unpredictability hinders the international exchange of genetic materials and fosters a challenging climate for research funding, potentially retarding the uptake of molecular breeding advancements.

Market Drivers

The incorporation of CRISPR-Cas9 and sophisticated gene-editing instruments is transforming the Global Molecular Breeding Market by facilitating exact genetic adjustments that do not require foreign DNA integration. This technological evolution empowers breeders to generate high-yielding, climate-resilient crops much faster than traditional techniques, effectively skipping the prolonged backcrossing stages previously needed. Regulatory environments are increasingly accepting these advancements, often classifying gene-edited crops similarly to conventionally bred ones, which reduces compliance costs and barriers to entry. According to Euroseeds, by January 2025, nearly 300 regulatory rulings had affirmed the conventional classification of New Genomic Technique (NGT) plants worldwide by the end of 2024, indicating a policy harmonization that promotes international trade and adoption.

Simultaneously, increased public and private investment in agrogenomic research and development is accelerating the creation of proprietary germplasm and cutting-edge genotyping systems. Major agricultural entities are dedicating significant funds to enhance their molecular breeding capabilities to protect intellectual property and gain a competitive edge. For example, Corteva Agriscience reported in early 2025 that its annual R&D expenditures for 2024 reached $1.402 billion, highlighting the magnitude of financial dedication fueling this innovation. These investments are yielding commercial results, as demonstrated by Syngenta Group in March 2025, when its Seeds unit reported full-year sales of $4.8 billion, confirming strong global demand for advanced seed products.

Market Challenges

The growth of the Global Molecular Breeding Market is severely hindered by intricate and fragmented regulatory structures across various international regions. This lack of regulatory harmony generates considerable uncertainty for breeding firms, as varieties created with molecular tools in one nation might face denial or demand expensive, repetitive safety evaluations in export markets. Such inconsistency compels organizations to maneuver through a complex maze of compliance mandates, directly inflating research and development expenses while delaying the launch of improved animal and crop varieties. Consequently, the elevated financial risks linked to these regulatory obstacles deter investment in novel breeding initiatives, especially for niche crops that cannot sustain high compliance costs.

Recent industry statistics illustrate the gravity of this impediment. As per the International Seed Federation in 2024, roughly 33% of global seed sector experts pinpointed the establishment of predictable, science-based regulations as the most essential requirement for unleashing innovation. This figure emphasizes that existing regulatory obstructions serve as a major bottleneck, effectively pausing the industry's capacity to expand molecular breeding solutions and restricting the commercial accessibility of superior genetic traits.

Market Trends

The implementation of AI-powered predictive breeding models is fast becoming a game-changing trend in the Global Molecular Breeding Market, reshaping how genetic improvements are achieved. In contrast to conventional selection techniques dependent on phenotypic observation, these sophisticated computational systems process immense genomic datasets to forecast trait outcomes with great precision, thereby refining parental selection and condensing development timelines. This technological evolution is driving tangible commercial results for leading agriscience companies that have adopted precision breeding. For instance, Bayer reported in November 2025 that sales in its Corn Seed & Traits division rose by 22.4% during the third quarter of 2025, a strong performance attributed to expanded planting areas and the adoption of high-performance germplasm created via these advanced pipelines.

Concurrently, the market is observing a notable broadening of molecular applications into aquaculture and livestock, extending beyond its traditional focus on crop science. This shift is marked by the increasing utilization of genomic selection instruments to improve disease resistance, feed efficiency, and reproductive qualities in animal populations, which is vital for satisfying the rising global protein demand. The commercial feasibility of this trend is highlighted by recent financial outcomes from major animal health firms. According to Zoetis, in November 2025, the company realized a 10% increase in organic operational revenue for livestock in the third quarter of 2025, totaling $725 million, demonstrating the growing dependence of swine and cattle producers on advanced genetic and health solutions to optimize productivity.

Key Players Profiled in the Molecular Breeding Market

• Eurofins Scientific SE
• GC Group
• Illumina Inc.
• SGS SA
• Thermo-Fisher Scientific Inc.
• Intertek Group PLC
• LemnaTec GmbH
• Charles River Laboratories International Inc.
• Bayer AG
• Slipstream Solutions

Report Scope

In this report, the Global Molecular Breeding Market has been segmented into the following categories:

Molecular Breeding Market, by Marker:

• Simple Sequence Repeat
• Single Nucleotide Polymorphism
• Expressed Sequence Tags
• Others

Molecular Breeding Market, by Application:

• Plant
• Livestock

Molecular Breeding Market, by Process:

• Marker Assisted Selection
• QTL Mapping
• Marker assisted back crossing

Molecular Breeding Market, by Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• South America
• Middle East & Africa

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global Molecular Breeding Market.

Available Customization

The analyst offers customization according to your specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

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